Let's discuss how much 90's R&B is influencing today's music

As I was rolling around in my miracle whip (my mayonnaise colored Camry) last week, I had the radio on like I sometimes do to stay up to date on the latest turn-ups going on. To my surprise, on Energy 106.9FM I heard a song that had a sample from a 90's R&B song. Cool.

I flipped the station to V100 and heard...

Then I flipped again to 98.3FM and heard...

Then I flipped back to V100 while the first song ended and the next one had...

Four songs in a row where 90's R&B, some of my favorite music, was being used as the backdrop.

Now, I'm not saying this is the beginning of some new trend because any song that is or was popular will get sampled quickly. One of the first times I noticed this was when Tupac's "I Ain't Mad At Cha" came out in September of 1996, which sampled DeBarge's "A Dream" from 1983. Just a few months later, February of 1997 to be exact, Blackstreet released "Don't Leave Me" which had the same sample. I thought it was a remix, but it wasn't. It was an entirely different song but I always connect those two songs in my mind.

Side note: I was 11 at the time so please give me a pass for not remembering any other twice used samples before then in my life. Get off me.

Also, I do realize that songs from all generations and genres get sampled on the regular. With so many artists out here now and websites like WhoSampled.com, it's easy to pay better attention and watch these sample lists grow with songs you would have never heard otherwise.

Well then, what ARE you saying then Bizzon?

I'm saying that at this moment, some of MY favorite songs from one of MY favorite eras of music growing up are getting sampled and getting major radio play which I'm happy about. Sure, some samples get used better than others and some have been done before. But, if it's causing another 11 year-old to get on the internets and learn about music that's older than them AND put it in a context they can relate to AND find an appreciation for the original, then I'm all for it. Let's face it, hip hop did for for so many of us with jazz, funk and soul, so let's let this new generation have their fun.

Now, let's take a trip down memory lane and enjoy these recently released songs that's use 90's R&B samples. And hit the comments with other newer songs you have heard that bring back some memories.

When I first heard this back in 2011, my immediate thought was, "Duuuude, we've done this some many times already. Let's do something else." Also, it sparked my own line of questioning about how much of this is biting versus creating something new. I mean it's damn near the same song.

But as I thought about it more, I realized that many of these kids NEVER heard "Human Nature" or "Right Here" and probably wouldn't outside of this context. And I like "Right Here" which was damn near the same as Human Nature outside of the added drums. So yeah, this generation should have a version of their own. And the video is a tribute to MJ so I quickly stopped hating.

Ciara's "Body Party" samples Ghost Town DJ's "My Boo"

For anyone that has ever heard me DJ, they know I play "My Boo" at 95% of my gigs (along with "Check The Rhime" from A Tribe Called Quest). It is my favorite song from the era and I remember watching it on the Box. Channel 8. Yes. So when I heard JUST the bass-line of "Body Party" I knew where it was going. Then she flipped the chorus, somewhat replicating the original and I was back in 1995 again.

But this and the Chris Brown really made me pay attention just a bit more to what was going on with these samples, especially with newer pop music...

Drake's Legend samples Ginuwine's "So Anxious"

So, now it's 2015 and Drake just released If You're Reading This Its Too Late. "Legend" stood out to me for it's Ginuwine sample. It's extremely slowed down and filtered, but you hear it. And "So Anxious" came out in 1999 so it still counts. Barely.

Drake's "How Bout Now" samples Jodeci's "My Heart Belongs To You"

While "Legend" was cool, "How Bout Now" was the yam though. The way they flipped Jodeci's "My Heart Belongs To You" was fresh, especially at the end of the chorus. I don't always give Drake props, but I had to for this one.

Big Sean's "Play No Games" samples Guy's "Piece Of My Love"

"Girl it's true...."

Immediately "Play No Games" lets you know this is gonna be a throwback joint and the video nails down the point even more. Just from the colors in the video, you can tell they are paying tribute to the second best black sitcom of the 90's, Martin. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air being the first. But they acted out all the characters from the show too. Dope.

Tory Lanez "Say It" samples Brownstone's "If You Love Me"

There are plenty songs from the 90's that unapologetically say, "Yes, this is a 90's song", but Brownstone's "If You Love Me" is one that says it the loudest. So when Tory Lanez came out with his version, "Say It", it honestly took me a minute to tell the difference. It's faster and since it's 2016 of course it has more bass. But I thought some new producer just made a quick remix, not a full fledged song. I was wrong.

So my second favorite 90's R&B song is "Shawty Swing My Way" from K.P. & Envyi and I was so glad to hear Bryson Tiller flip it on his song "Exchange." He's kinda taking over the R&B world right now with his TRAPSOUL album and joints like this are the reason why. Instead of sampling the beat, chorus or lyrics, all they did was take the ad-libs from the intro and throw some effects on it. That's honestly all I needed.

Zendaya's "Something New" samples TLC's "Creep"

So, I was never a big fan of "Creep" from TLC but I know it meant a lot to everyone else. So much so that it gets sampled all the time actually and Zendaya used it for her joint "Something New". The main melody from "Creep" is used from the jump and throughout the song, so you'll notice it quickly.

Luke Nasty's "Might Be" samples Xscape's "Who Can I Run To"

When it comes to slow jams of the 90's Xscape had the jackpot. From "Understanding" to "The Arms of the One Who Loves You" to their biggest hit (to me) "Who Can I Run To". The latter was recently used for Luke Nasty's new song "Might Be". And Xscape's version was a remake of the actual original from The Jones Girls back in 1979. The main melody was used and instead of using the word "Ahhhh" from the intro he kind of turns it into "high", which I'm kind of ok with.

Diplo's "Be Right There" samples Jade's "Dont Walk Away"

The most surprising song on this list Diplo's latest song "Be Right There". I wasn't expecting a new EDM joint to take it back to the 90's, but they did using Jade's "Don't Walk Away". As a DJ, I'm always trying to find songs in genres I'm not the biggest fan of that I, and the crowds I play for, can relate to. This one does just that as they took the acapella of the chorus and threw it over a oontz-banger beat. I'm still 50-50 on it but I give them props for it nonetheless.

Bonus: Colonel Loud's "California" samples Maze's "We Are One"

Now, I know "We Are One" came out in the early 80's, but with so many 40-50 year-old people loving Colonel Loud's "California", it's the perfect example of what I'm trying to say.

Songs like these connect generations together in ways your average song can't. And (hopefully) Maze gets money put in their pockets from the licensing, so it's a win for the original artist that was sampled, the new artist that used the sample and the fans, old and new alike. Everyone is learning something new in the process and that's something we all can benefit from.

Winner of Vocalo Radio’s 2013 “Quest For The Best DJ” battle, DJ Bizzon’s creative turntablism skills, original production and hands-on style has made him one of the Midwest’s most sought-after DJs. He has opened for or performed with artists including Kendrick Lamar, Baauer, Mac Miller, Questlove, Naughty By Nature, People Under The Stairs and DJ Abilities. Read more

Meet Jank

Damon “Jank” Joy doesn’t believe in bios. He doesn’t believe in much in this world but his own infallible opinion, an opinion he hopes will lead you toward the light — the light being hip hop. Jank is a retired deejay and co-host of the popular WMSE radio show, “Those Hip-Hop Guys,” along with the lanky fellow in the photo above his. Read more

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